Alternative-source energy management

ABSTRACT

A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/916,764 filed May 8, 2007, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

Today, companies and persons rely on having a consistent supply of powerto electronic devices more than ever before. Without power, companiesmay be unable to manufacture goods, or to operate at all, such as if thecompany is in the business of supplying information over the Internet.Without power, businesses and individuals may be completelyincapacitated regarding critical activities, such as making goods,providing services, and transacting personal finances (e.g., filing taxreturns, and paying bills). With such a heavy reliance on power,individuals and companies frequently like to be able to have poweroutages corrected in short order, and/or have backup power supplies sothat their affairs and/or businesses are not significantly affected.

Alternative energy sources, such as solar energy, are desirable sourcesof energy for both home use and commercial use. For home use, users mayneed alternative energy sources due to their homes not being connectedto a power grid, or may desire alternative energy sources to supplementpower from a power grid. For off-grid houses, solar panels may be usedto receive solar energy, convert the solar energy to electrical energy,and store the electrical energy in batteries for future use. Forexample, the batteries may be used to provide power at night or othertimes when the solar energy is unavailable. These off-grid systems canbe complex, expensive, and physically large. For on-grid houses, systemsfor converting solar energy do not use batteries and run in parallelwith the power grid. If the power grid is within specifications, thenenergy obtained through the solar system is used locally as desired,with excess energy provided by the solar systems being sent to the grid,and energy above that provided by the solar system being used to powerthe loads being drawn from the grid.

For on-grid solar energy systems, safety issues exist with respect toservicing the power grid during brownouts or blackouts. When utilitypower is out of specification (e.g., a brownout or a blackout), energyneeds to be inhibited from entering the grid during repair of the gridso that workers repairing the grid are not electrocuted when workingdownstream from a power source.

SUMMARY

An exemplary power converter system in accordance with the disclosureincludes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter;a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first inputconfigured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs eachconfigured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switchcoupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupledto the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and acontroller coupled to the load switches and to the first output andconfigured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies atleast one criterion, the controller being further configured to controlthe power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter tothe first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs ifthe at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control thepower-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter fromthe first output and to couple the converter to at least one of thesecond outputs.

Embodiments of such power converter systems may include one or more ofthe following features. The controller is configured to provide a modeindication signal to the converter depending upon whether the at leastone criterion is satisfied. The converter is configured to operate in aCSI mode or in a VSI mode in accordance with the mode indication signalreceived from the controller. In the CSI mode the converter isconfigured to provide energy at the voltage of the first output with acorresponding current according to an amount of power available from theconverter, and where in the VSI mode the converter is configured toprovide energy at a predetermined voltage with a current determined bythe AC loads coupled to the second outputs. The predetermined voltage isapproximately the same as a voltage provided by the power grid when thepower grid is operational. The at least one criterion includes at leastone of an acceptable range of voltage and an acceptable range offrequency. The controller is further configured to determine that thesystem is not unintentionally islanding. The controller is coupled tothe second outputs and is configured to control the AC load switches tochange a distribution of power provided by the converter to portions ofthe second output if power provided to the second outputs is above anamount of power available to the converter. The controller is configuredto cause the AC load switch associated with the lowest-priority,presently-connected, non-delayable AC load to isolate the converter fromthe corresponding second output if the power provided to the secondoutputs is above the amount of power available to the converter. Theload switches are configured to be positioned in a first stateconnecting the second outputs to the converter, in a second stateconnecting the second outputs to the first input, and in a third stateconnecting the second outputs to neither the converter nor the firstinput. Systems may include a second input configured to be coupled to anAC power source separate from the power grid where the load switches arefurther coupled to the second input. The load switches are configured tobe positioned in a first state connecting the second outputs to theconverter, in a second state connecting the second outputs to the firstinput, in a third state connecting the second outputs to the secondinput, and in a fourth state connecting the second outputs to neitherthe converter nor the first input nor the second input.

A further exemplary power converter system in accordance with thedisclosure includes a power converter system including: a first inputconfigured to receive a DC voltage from a first DC power source; asecond input configured to couple to a power grid; a first outputconfigured to couple to the power grid; second outputs each configuredto couple to a corresponding AC load; a power routing module coupled tothe first output and the second outputs; and a DC-to-AC convertercoupled to the first input and the power routing module, the converterbeing configured to selectively operate in either a first or secondmode, in the first mode the converter acting as a current source toconvert the DC voltage received from the first input and to provide anAC current to the power routing module, and in the second mode theconverter acting as a voltage source to convert the DC voltage receivedfrom the first input and to provide an AC voltage of a predeterminedlevel.

Embodiments of such power converter systems may include one or more ofthe following features. The converter is configured to effect the firstand second modes in response to a first indication that the power gridis connected to the first output and in an acceptable state and anunacceptable state, respectively. Systems may include a controllercoupled to the first output and the converter and configured todetermine at least one of whether a voltage from the power grid isacceptable, whether a frequency of energy from the power grid isacceptable, and whether the system is unintentionally islanding, and toprovide the first indication to the converter. The controller is coupledto the power routing module and configured to provide a secondindication of an acceptability of energy received by the system from thepower grid, and the power routing module is configured to route energyfrom the converter to the first output if the received grid energy isacceptable and to selectively route energy from the converter to thesecond outputs if the received grid energy is unacceptable. The powerrouting module is coupled and configured to selectively route energyfrom the second input to the second outputs if the received grid energyis acceptable. Systems may include a DC disconnect module coupled to thefirst input and configured to be manually operated to selectivelyconnect/disconnect a DC voltage source to/from the converter. Systemsmay include a third input configured to couple to an AC power sourceseparate from the power grid. Systems may include: a second DC powersource including an energy storage device; and a bidirectional DC-to-DCconverter coupled to the energy storage device and to the DC-to-ACconverter.

A further exemplary power converter system in accordance with thedisclosure includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC powerconverter configured to receive DC power from at least one DC powersource; a grid switch coupled to the converter and configured to coupleto a power grid; selective couplings coupled to the converter, theselective couplings including load lines configured to be coupled to ACloads, the selective couplings being configured to selectively couplethe converter to the load lines; and a controller coupled to theselective couplings and configured to be coupled to the power grid, thecontroller being configured to determine whether energy from the powergrid satisfies at least one criterion and to control the grid switch toisolate the converter from the power grid, and to control the selectivecouplings to couple the converter to at least one of the load lines, ifthe at least one criterion is unsatisfied, the controller being furtherconfigured to control the selective couplings to change a distributionof power provided by the converter to the load lines if power providedto the load lines is above an amount of power available to theconverter.

Embodiments of such power converter systems may include one or more ofthe following features. The controller is configured to cause theselective couplings to change a distribution of power provided by theconverter to the load lines dependent upon at least one criterion otherthan power drawn on the load lines. The controller is configured tocause the selective coupling associated with a presently-connected,lowest-priority, non-delayable AC load to isolate the converter from therespective load line if power provided to the load lines is above anamount of power available to the converter. Systems may include anenergy storage module coupled to the converter and the controller, wherethe controller is configured to disconnect a presently-connecteddelayable load from the converter before attempting to use energy fromthe energy storage module to power presently-connected loads if poweravailable from the converter from the at least one solar panel isinsufficient to power the presently-connected loads. Each of theselective couplings are configured to be positioned in a first stateconnecting a respective one of the load lines to the converter, in asecond state connecting a respective one of the load lines to the powergrid, and in a third state connecting a respective one of the load linesto neither the converter nor the power grid. The selective couplings arefurther configured to couple to an AC power source separate from thepower grid. Each of the selective couplings are configured to bepositioned in a first state connecting a respective one of the loadlines to the converter, in a second state connecting a respective one ofthe load lines to the power grid, in a third state connecting arespective one of the load lines to the AC power source, and in a fourthstate connecting a respective one of the load lines to neither theconverter nor the power grid nor the AC power source. The DC-to-AC powerconverter is configured to receive DC power from a first DC power sourcethrough a unidirectional connection, and the system may include: asecond DC power source including an energy storage device; and abidirectional DC-to-DC converter coupled to the energy storage deviceand to the DC-to-AC power converter. The controller is configured toconnect and disconnect loads to and from the converter based uponpermitted sources of power for respective loads.

A further exemplary power converter system in accordance with thedisclosure includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC powerconverter; outputs each configured to be coupled to an AC load; loadswitches coupled to the converter and the outputs; and a controllercoupled to the load switches and to the outputs and configured tocontrol the load switches to selectively couple the converter to theoutputs to selectively provide AC power from the DC-to-AC powerconverter to the outputs dependent upon at least one characteristicassociated with the outputs other than power drawn on the outputs.

Embodiments of such power converter systems may include one or more ofthe following features. Systems may include a first DC source that isunidirectionally coupled to the DC-to-AC power converter to supply DCpower to the DC-to-AC power converter, and the system may include: asecond DC source including an energy storage device; and a bidirectionalDC-to-DC converter coupled to the energy storage device and to theDC-to-AC power converter. Systems may include a bidirectional DC-to-DCconverter coupled to the DC-to-AC converter and configured to couple toan energy storage device. The first DC source includes at least one of aDC-output generator and at least one solar panel. The at least onecharacteristic is at least one of whether a particular output ispermitted to receive power from a particular source, and whether aparticular output is associated with a delayable AC load. Systems mayinclude an AC generator coupled to the load switches.

An exemplary method of regulating power delivery by a power deliverysystem includes: determining whether a power grid with acceptable firstAC power available is connected to the power delivery system; receivingfirst DC power at a DC-to-AC converter from a first DC power sourceother than an energy storage device and converting the received first DCpower from the first DC power source to second AC power; providing thesecond AC power to the power grid if it is determined that a power gridwith acceptable power available is connected to the power deliverysystem; and providing the second AC power to a first AC load, ofmultiple AC loads, connected to the power delivery system if it isdetermined that no power grid with acceptable power available isconnected to the power delivery system; where the second AC power isprovided to the first AC load dependent upon at least one characteristicof the first AC load in addition to power draw of the AC load.

Embodiments of such a method may include one or more of the followingfeatures. The at least one characteristic includes delayability of therespective load. The at least one characteristic includes permission ofthe respective load to receive power derived from the first DC source.Providing the second AC power to the first AC load includes providingthe second AC power in an amount only up to a threshold amount. Methodsmay include providing third AC power to a second AC load of the AC loadsdependent upon whether the second AC load is permitted to receive powerderived from a source of the third AC power. Methods may includereceiving second DC power at the DC-to-AC converter from a second DCpower source, including an energy storage device, and converting thereceived second DC power from the second DC power source to the third ACpower. Methods may include receiving the third AC power from an ACgenerator. Methods may include: receiving second DC power at theDC-to-AC converter from a second DC power source, including an energystorage device, and converting the received second DC power from thesecond DC power source to fourth AC power; receiving fifth AC power froman AC generator; and combining the fourth and the fifth AC power to formthe third AC power. The first and second AC loads are physicallyseparate such that the second and third AC powers are provided tophysically separate loads.

An exemplary method of regulating power delivery by a power deliverysystem includes: providing characteristics of AC loads; providingindications of alternative power sources, which of the alternative powersources are permitted to power which of the AC loads, and priority ofuse of the alternative power sources, where the alternative powersources are connected to the power delivery system, where thealternative power sources are different from a power grid; and poweringthe at least one of the AC loads using at least one of the alternativepower sources, without using a power grid, based on the characteristicsof the AC loads, the priority of use of the alternative power sources,and which of the alternative power sources are permitted to power whichof the AC loads.

Embodiments of such a method may include one or more of the followingfeatures. The characteristics include load delayability. The alternativepower sources include a source of renewable DC power, and methods mayinclude: determining whether a power grid with acceptable AC poweravailable is connected to the power delivery system; and providing powerto the power grid from the source of renewable DC power if it isdetermined that a power grid with acceptable power available isconnected to the power delivery system. Powering the AC loads includespowering the AC loads without exceeding a power threshold. Powering theAC loads includes discontinuing to power a particular one of the ACloads if a power drawn by the powered loads exceeds an available powerpresently provided by the alternative power sources to the AC loads. Thediscontinuing includes selecting the particular one of the AC loadsbased upon at least one of the load characteristics. The discontinuingincludes selecting the particular one of the AC loads based upon thepriority of use of the alternative power sources.

Various embodiments discussed herein may provide one or more of thefollowing capabilities. Solar energy may be used in a grid-tiedphotovoltaic (PV) converter to provide power to a user (e.g., a house)during times when grid power is out of specification. A solar energysystem can act as both a grid-tied system and an off-grid system, i.e.,acting in either an off-grid mode or an on-grid mode. Power from alimited power source may be effectively allocated to one or more loads.Electrocution of persons working on a power grid downstream from a houseor other entity using a solar energy system can be inhibited. Agrid-tied and photovoltaic system can be made more robust than previoussystems. Energy efficiency can be improved in a grid-tied photovoltaicsystem.

These and other capabilities will be more fully understood after areview of the following figures, detailed description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an arrangement with a home connected to receivepower from both a power grid and solar panels.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a split-phase grid-tied photovoltaicconverter system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the system shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a block flow diagram of providing power in the arrangementshown in FIG. 1 using the system shown in FIGS. 2-3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a single-phase grid-tied photovoltaicconverter system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a split-phase grid-tied photovoltaicconverter system with a back-up energy storage device.

FIG. 7 is a block flow diagram of portions of the flow diagram shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another grid-tied photovoltaic convertersystem.

FIG. 9A is a block diagram of an alternative load switch.

FIG. 9B is a block diagram of a power switch, AC generator, and DC-to-ACconverter for use in a power delivery system.

FIG. 10 is a block flow diagram of portions of the flow diagram shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a block flow diagram of portions of the flow diagram shown inFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The disclosure provided herein describes, among other things,techniques, embodied in methods and/or apparatus, for providing solarenergy to a grid-tied building. For example, solar panels may beconnected to a DC-to-AC converter (i.e., an inverter) via a DCdisconnect. The converter is selectively coupled via switches to ACloads of the building and selectively coupled to the power grid. Whenthe power grid is within specifications, the converter provides energyfrom the solar panels to the grid and while the grid is out ofspecification, the converter is coupled through the respective switchesto provide energy from the solar panels to the loads. A controllermonitors the status of the grid voltage and controls the switchescoupling the converter to the grid and the loads such that the converteris isolated from the grid and connected to the loads when the grid isout of specification and the converter is connected to the grid when thegrid is within specifications. Further, the controller can regulate theswitches coupling the converter to the loads to effectively use thepower from the solar panels if insufficient power is available forappropriately powering all of the loads. Other embodiments are withinthe scope of the description and claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, a powered-home arrangement 10 includes a house 12and a power grid 14. The power grid 14 is connected to loads within thehouse 12 for powering the loads (not shown). On the house, there is aset of solar panels 16 configured to convert solar energy to electricenergy for powering the loads of the house 12. The solar panels 16 canalso convert solar energy to electrical energy for supply to the powergrid 14 to reduce the energy bills that need to be paid by the owner ofthe house 12 for the power from the grid 14. For example, energysupplied from the solar panel 16 via appropriate circuitry in the house12 to the power grid 14 may cause a power meter attached to the house 12for monitoring power received from the power grid 14 to run backwards,indicating power being supplied from the house 12 to the power grid 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, an energy distribution system 20 includes a DCdisconnect circuit 22, a power distribution and conversion module 24,and a main electric panel 26. The system 20 may be fully or partiallywithin the house 12. As shown, the DC disconnect 22 is coupled via aline 28 to the solar panels 16. The DC disconnect 22 is further coupledto the power distribution and conversion module 24, which is connectedvia a line 30 to the electric panel 26. The line 30 may in fact containmultiple electrical lines and may be contained within a singlemechanical conduit. The main electric panel 26 is connected via one ormore lines 32 to appropriate AC loads within the house 12 and viaappropriate lines 33 to the power grid.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the DC disconnect circuit 22 contains a switch34. The switch 34 is a multi-pole switch configured to selectivelyconnect the solar panels 16 to the module 24. The switch 34 ismechanically operable using a handle 35 to connect the panel 16 to themodule 24 or to isolate the panel 16 from the module 24, e.g., forservice of the module 24. In its typical operating mode, however, theswitch 34 is closed, thereby connecting the panel 16 to the module 24,and this mode is assumed for further discussion below.

The module 24 includes a DC-to-AC converter 36, a grid switch 40, loadswitches 42-45, a combined controller and grid voltage sensor 46, andfuses 48, and the electric panel 26 includes lines 50, 52, 54, connectedto the power grid 14, lines 62-65 connected to AC loads, and circuitbreakers 72-77. The controller and sensor 46 is referred to below as thecontroller 46 or the sensor 46. Also, while only four switches 42-45 andcorresponding fuses 48 and load lines 62-65 are shown, other quantitiesmay be used. Each of the switches 42-45 can be placed in any of threestates, connecting its corresponding load line 62-65 to thecorresponding power line 50, 52, connecting its load line 62-65 to theconverter 36, or connecting its load line 62-65 to a disconnectposition/terminal 92-95 (e.g., an open circuit, not connected to theconverter 36 or either of the power lines 50, 52). The controller/sensor46 can include one or more processors (and may share a processor) thatcan read and execute software code instructions, stored in memory, toperform functions described herein. The converter 36 is connected to theDC disconnect switch 34 and configured to convert DC energy receivedfrom the solar panels 16 to AC energy in accordance with a signalreceived from the power grid sensor 46. The converter 36 is configuredto operate as either a current source inverter (CSI) in a CSI mode or avoltage source inverter (VSI) in a VSI mode in accordance with whetherthe grid sensor 46 provides a CSI or a VSI signal, respectively. Thesensor 46 will cause the converter 36 to operate in CSI mode if a powergrid with acceptable power is connected, and will cause the converter 36to operate in VSI mode if no grid with acceptable power is connected.The VSI mode can be used during short or long durations of lack ofacceptable power grid power, and even in cases where no power grid isconnected at all. The converter 36 has its neutral line connected to theline 54 in the electric panel 26 that is connected to the neutral lineof the power grid 14. A first (e.g., 0° electrical phase) line 82 of theconverter 36 is connected to one contact of the switch 40 and to theswitches 42, 44, and a second line 84 (e.g., 180° electrical phase) isconnected to the other contact of the switch 40 and to the switches 43,45. The switches 42-45 are configured to selectively couple either thepower lines 50, 52 from the power grid 14 (via the circuit breaker72-75) or the power lines 82, 84 from the converter 36 (via the fuses48) to the AC load lines 62-65 connected to AC loads within the house12. The switch 40 is configured to selectively couple or decouple thepower lines 82, 84 from the converter 36 to the power lines 50, 52connected to the power grid 14 (via the circuit breakers 76, 77). In theCSI mode, the converter 36 provides as much current as is available fromthe energy received from the solar panels 16 and provides the current,with a voltage dictated by the power grid voltage to the power lines 50,52, and optionally 54. In the VSI mode, the converter 36 is configuredto provide a predetermined voltage such as 120 volts from line toneutral, i.e., from line 82 or 84 to the neutral 54, and 240 volts fromline to line, i.e., from line 82 to line 84, to imitate the power grid14 or otherwise appear as a substitute for the power grid 14. Toproperly imitate the power grid 14 in VSI mode, the voltage on theneutral line 54 is regulated to be approximately at a midpoint betweenthe output voltages 82 and 84 of the DC-AC converter 36. The inputvoltage to the converter 36 may come directly from the solar panels 16or from the panels 16 via a DC-DC converter, which could be part of theconverter 36 itself. The regulation can be done by passive means (e.g.,a large split-capacitor bank) or by active means. The circuitryregulating the neutral line voltage can be part of the converter 36 or aseparate unit in the module 24.

The controller/power grid sensor 46 is configured to determine whetherthe power grid 14 is within power specifications, to control the switch40, and to provide the CSI/VSI signal to the converter 36 accordingly.The controller/sensor 46 is connected, via the circuit breakers 76, 77,to the power lines 50, 52 connected to the power grid 14. This sensor 46is configured to sense the power provided by the power grid 14. Thecontroller/sensor 46 is further configured to determine whether thepower provided by the power grid 14 is within desired specifications(e.g., within acceptable ranges of voltage and frequency such as thoseprovided in IEEE 1547 or UL 1741) or is out of specification, e.g.,during a brownout or blackout. The controller/sensor 46 is furtherconfigured to determine whether the module 24 is unintentionallyislanding, and thus creating possible safety hazards (e.g., see U.S.Pat. No. 7,015,597 for techniques for determining unintentionalislanding). The controller/sensor 46 is further configured and coupledto the switch 40 to control whether the switch 40 is open or closed. Thecontroller/sensor 46 is configured such that if the power from the powergrid is within the specifications, the sensor 46 will control the switch40 to be closed thereby connecting the converter 36 to the power lines50, 52 and will send the CSI/VSI signal to the converter 36 indicatingfor the converter 36 to operate in the CSI mode. The controller/sensor46 is configured such that if the power from the power grid 14 is out ofspecification, then the switch 40 will be open and the sensor 46 willsend the CSI/VSI signal to the converter 36 indicating for the converter36 to operate in the VSI mode. The controller/sensor 46 is furthercoupled and configured to control the switches 42-45 such that if thepower grid 14 is within specification, then the switches 42-45 connectthe lines 50, 52 to the AC load lines 62-65, and if the power grid 14 isout of specification, then the switches 42-45 connect the converter 36to the AC load lines 62-65.

The controller 46 is configured to regulate the switches 42-45 toaccommodate different load priorities. The controller 46 is configuredto control the state of the switches 42-45 depending on the mode of theconverter 36 (i.e., the state of the power grid, in or out ofspecification, as indicated by the power grid sensor 46). The controller46 is further coupled to the AC load lines 62-65 and is furtherconfigured to control the state of switches 42-45 dependent on poweravailable from the converter 36 from the solar panels 16, amounts ofpower desired by AC loads connected to the AC load lines 62-65, andpriorities associated with the AC loads. The controller 46 has storedwithin it priorities associated with loads connected to the lines 62-65.The controller 46 is programmable, e.g., by a user, to store thepriorities based on various criteria, e.g., the existence or absence ofclosed-loops controller in the loads associated with the lines 62-65.The controller 46 can be programmed by receiving indications of loads inresponse to which the controller 46 can assign a priority. Thecontroller 46 can assign a higher priority to a load that does not havea closed-loop controller (e.g., a garage door opener) and assign a lowerpriority to a load that has a closed-loop controller (e.g., arefrigerator, or a furnace). The controller 46 can monitor power beingprovided to the loads via the lines 62-65, and compare the power beingprovided with the priorities associated with the lines 62-65 and desiredpowers associated with those lines 62-65, which are also stored in thecontroller 46. The controller 46 can determine whether more power isdesired to be provided to a higher-priority load than is currently beingprovided while power is available on a line connected to alower-priority load. Higher-priority loads are typically loads that arenot delayable or do not have their own controllers (e.g., lights, garagedoor openers) while lower-priority loads are typically delayable and/orhave their own controllers (e.g., heaters, refrigerators) and can thuscompensate for temporary denial of power. The controller 46 can controlthe appropriate switches 42-45 to open the connections between theconverter 36 and the lower-priority switch(es) 42-45 to maintain poweravailability for the higher-priority load(s). The controller 46 willcause lower-switch(es) 42-45 to connect the load line(s) 62-65 to thedisconnect terminal(s) 92-95. This will provide an open circuit betweenthe converter 36 and the load line(s) 62-65 whose correspondingswitch(es) 42-45 is(are) in the disconnect position and provide an opencircuit between the power grid lines 50, 52 and the corresponding loadline(s) 62-65 so that neither the converter 36 nor the power grid lines50, 52 are connected to the corresponding load line(s) 62-65. An exampleof such a configuration is described in pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/952,565. Preferably, the controller 46 will only cause oneor more of the switches 42-45 to be opened if the loads are trying todraw more power on the lines 62-65 than is currently available form bythe converter 36 and the solar panels 16. The controller 46 thusprovides intelligent load management for powering the AC loads.

In operation, referring FIG. 4, with further reference to FIGS. 1-3, aprocess 110 for selectively providing energy from the solar panels 16 tothe power grid 14 or the home loads using the system 20 includes thestages shown. The process 110, however, is exemplary only and notlimiting. The process 110 may be altered, e.g., by having stages added,removed, or rearranged.

At stage 112, the solar panels 16 convert solar energy to electricenergy. The electric energy is conveyed through the DC disconnect 20 tothe module 24, and specifically to the DC-to-AC converter 36.

At stage 114, it is determined whether the power grid 14 is providingpower within specification and whether the module 24 is unintentionallyislanding. The power grid sensor 46 monitors the power on the lines 50,52 from the power grid 14 via the circuit breakers 76, 77. The sensor 46determines whether the power is within acceptable ranges of voltages andfrequencies for the power grid 14. It is also determined whether adevice appearing to be the power grid 14 is connected to the module 24.It is thus determined whether a power grid of acceptable power isconnected to the module 24. If the sensor 46 determines that powerwithin specification is not being received, then the process 110proceeds to stage 122, and if the sensor 46 determines that power withinspecification is being received, then the process 110 proceeds to stage116.

At stage 116, the power grid 14 is connected to the AC load lines 62-65.The controller/sensor 46 controls the switches 42-45 to connect thepower grid lines 52-54 to the AC load lines 62-65.

At stage 118, the converter 36 is connected to the power grid 14. Thecontroller/sensor 46 controls the switch 40 such that the switch 40closes to couple the converter 36 to the power grid lines 50, 52. Theconverter 36 thus can provide power via the lines 82, 84 and the switch40 to the power grid lines 50, 52.

At stage 120, the controller/sensor 46 sends the CSI/VSI signal to theconverter 36 indicating that the power grid voltage is within acceptableranges of voltages and frequencies. The CSI/VSI signal indicates to theconverter 36 to operate in the CSI mode. This signal can thus be calleda CSI signal. The converter 36 responds to the CSI signal to operate inthe CSI mode to convert power from the solar panels 16 to AC power andprovide the AC power to the power grid 14.

At stage 122, with the grid sensor 46 determining that the power grid 14is not within specification, the converter 36 is decoupled from thepower grid 14. The controller/sensor 46 controls the switch 40 to openthe switch 40 to isolate the converter 36 from the power grid lines 50,52.

At stage 124, the controller 46 indicates to the converter 36 to operatein VSI mode. The controller 46 sends the VSI signal to the converter 36to operate in the VSI mode. This signal can thus be called a VSI signal.

At stage 126, the converter 36 responds to the VSI signal to operate inVSI mode and is connected to the AC loads. The controller 46 sendscontrol signals to cause the switches 42-45 to connect the output lines82, 84 of the converter 36 to the AC load lines 62-65, respectively. Thepower from the converter 36 at the pre-determined voltage (e.g., 120V)is provided from the converter 36 to the AC loads via the AC load lines62-65. If current drawn exceeds an acceptable limit or threshold current(e.g., due to a fault in a load) at any of the switches 42-45, then thecorresponding fuse 48 is blown thereby disconnecting the converter 36from the corresponding AC load line 62-65.

At stage 128, the controller 46 determines whether sufficient power isavailable to power the AC loads. The controller 46 monitors the poweravailable, which depends on the solar panels 16 and the converter 36,for the AC load lines 62-65 and compares this power availability withvalues stored in the controller 46 as to acceptable, desired power foreach of the loads. If the controller 46 determines that sufficient poweris available for the loads, then the process 110 returns to stage 114.If the controller 46 determines that less power is available thandesired to fully operate the loads connected to the load lines 62-65,then the process 110 proceeds to stage 130.

At stage 130, the controller 46 manages how the available power isdistributed to the loads. The controller 46 determines whether the powerbeing provided to the highest-priority load is sufficient. If thehighest-priority load is not being sufficiently powered, then thecontroller 46 causes the switches 42-45 corresponding to thelowest-priority load to be opened to disconnect the converter 36 fromthe lowest-priority load. This analysis continues with thenext-lowest-priority load being disconnected until sufficient power isbeing provided to the highest-priority load. The controller 46 thendetermines if the next-highest-priority load is being sufficientlypowered and disconnects the next-lowest-priority load from the converter36 if it is not being sufficiently being powered. This continues untilall of the connected loads are being sufficiently powered. The process110 returns to stage 114 to determine again whether the power grid 14 isnow providing voltage within the acceptable ranges of voltages andfrequencies. If the voltage and frequency from the power grid 14 returnsor becomes within the acceptable ranges, then the process 110 proceedsto 116 and the connection of the converter 36 to the AC load lines 62-65is terminated and regulation of the switches 42-45 is not performed.

Other embodiments are within the scope of the description and claims.For example, different power grid arrangements may be accommodated. Forexample, while the system 20 shown in FIG. 3 is for use with asplit-phase power grid, referring to FIG. 5, a single-phase energydistribution system 510 may be used with a single-phase AC power grid.As with the converter 36 in FIG. 3, a DC-AC converter 512 is configuredto operate as either a current source inverter (CSI) in a CSI mode or avoltage source inverter (VSI) in a VSI mode in accordance with whether agrid sensor 546 provides a CSI or a VSI signal, respectively. In thesystem 510, the DC-AC converter 512 has its neutral line connected to aline 554 that is connected to the neutral line of the power grid. Theconverter 512 has its output line 514 connected to a switch 540 and toswitches 542-545. The switches 542-545 are configured to selectivelycouple either a power line 550 from the power grid or the output line514 of the converter 512 to AC load lines 521-524. The switch 540 isconfigured to selectively couple/decouple the output line 514 of theconverter 512 to/from the power line 550 connected to the power grid. Inthe CSI mode, the converter 512 preferably provides as much current asis available from the energy received from the solar panels and providesthe current, with a voltage dictated by the power grid voltage, to thepower line 550. In the VSI mode, the converter 512 provides apredetermined voltage, such as 230 volts from line to neutral, toimitate the power grid or otherwise appear as a substitute for the powergrid. As with the sensor/controller 46 of FIG. 3, the controller/powergrid sensor 546 is configured to determine whether the power grid iswithin specifications, to control the switch 540, and to provide theCSI/VSI signal to the converter 512 accordingly. Also similar to thesensor/controller 46, the controller 546 is further coupled andconfigured to control the switches 542-545, depending on the status ofthe power grid and depending on the availability of power from the solarpanels versus the priority of the AC loads 521-524.

Further, an energy storage backup may be used. Referring to FIG. 6, anenergy distribution system 230 includes a bidirectional DC-DC converter232, an energy storage device 234, here a battery, and a controller 236.The bidirectional converter 232 is configured to convert power to theappropriate DC voltage to transfer energy from the solar panels to thebattery 234 or from the battery 234 to the converter 238. Thebidirectional converter 232 is coupled to the controller 236 andcontrolled by the controller 236 to provide power from the battery 234to the DC-AC converter 238 if the power grid is out of specification andthe solar panels are providing less power, as converted by the DC-ACconverter 238, than is desired by the AC loads. The converter 232 isfurther controlled by the controller 236 to provide power from the solarpanels to the battery 234 to charge the battery 234 if the power grid isout of specification and the solar panels are providing more power, asconverted by the DC-AC converter 238, than is desired by the AC loads.The controller 236 is further configured to regulate distribution ofpower to the AC loads to maintain power availability for power theloads, as described above. The converter 232 may have its own processor,independent of the processor in the controller 236.

In operation, referring to FIG. 7, with further reference to FIGS. 1-4and 6, a process 710 for determining which loads to connect/disconnectfor/from receiving power, and connecting/disconnecting the appropriateloads, e.g., stages 126, 128, 130 of FIG. 4, using the system 20 or thesystem 230, as appropriate, includes the stages shown. The process 710,however, is exemplary only and not limiting. The process 710 may bealtered, e.g., by having stages added, removed, or rearranged. Also,while the description below refers to solar power, the process 710 isequally applicable to use with other sources of power, particularlyother renewable energy sources (e.g., wind, geothermal, water, biofuel,anaerobic digestions, etc.).

At stage 712, one or more characteristics of the AC loads aredetermined. The characteristics are preferably in addition to the load(power draw) of each of the AC loads. For example, the controller 46determines the delayability of each the AC loads. This determination cantake a variety of forms, such as a user programming the controller 46.

At stage 714, the available power sources, their priorities, andsource/load permissions are determined. For example, the controller 46determines the existence of the solar panels 16 and the energy storagedevice 234. The controller 46 also determines the priority of desiredorder of use of the sources. Further, the controller 46 determines thepermissible combinations of loads and sources. These determinations maybe made in a variety of manners, such as by programming the controller46. Some loads may be only permitted to use energy derived from somesources (e.g., a garage door opener may be permitted to use solar powerbut not battery power, while a refrigerator could use any availablepower source). Also, source/load permissions may change, e.g, as afunction of time (e.g., a microwave oven may be permitted to beconnected to the DC-to-AC converter during the day, but not at night).As a further example, a particular load may only be permitted to becoupled to the power grid, an alternative AC power source (ifalternative load switches are used (see FIG. 9)), or a particular typeof DC source, e.g., solar panels but not an energy storage device (e.g.,battery).

At stage 716, one or more of the AC loads is powered based oncharacteristics of the loads, available power, priority of the sources,and the permitted load/source combinations. The controller 46 attemptsto power the loads based on their characteristics. For example, thecontroller 46 attempts to power all the non-delayable AC loads beforeattempting to power any of the delayable loads. The loads may beprioritized within the categories of delayable and nondelayable.Further, these categories are exemplary of characteristics that can beused, and not exhaustive. If there is sufficient power available fromthe source or sources permitted to power a particular load that thecontroller authorizes to receive power, then the controller 46 powersthe particular load using the fewest number of the permitted sources, inorder of priority. Further, if the power draw of loads presentlyconnected exceeds the available power (e.g., available power declinedand/or drawn power increased), then the controller disconnects one ormore loads based upon their characteristics and the source priorityuntil the available power meets or exceeds the drawn power. Beforeconnecting a particular load to a particular power source, or decidingwhether to disconnect a particular load from a particular source, aninquiry can be made as to whether this coupling is permitted, with thecoupling made/continued if permitted and not made/broken if notpermitted.

At stage 718, excess energy is stored. If the sources are capable ofproviding more power than presently drawn by all the AC loads, thenexcess power is provided to the energy storage device 234, if present,particularly energy from a renewable energy source, e.g., the solarpanels 16.

Other embodiments are within the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims. For example, due to the nature of software, functions describedabove can be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, hardwiring,or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions mayalso be physically located at various positions, including beingdistributed such that portions of functions are implemented at differentphysical locations. Further, one or more of the fuses 48 may be replacedby circuit breakers. Also, while monitoring of whether power gridvoltage is within specification was described sequentially (e.g., stage114 after stage 120 or 130), this may be done in parallelintermittently, periodically, or continuously (e.g., stage 114 inparallel with higher-numbered stages in FIG. 4). Also, while the term“switch” has been used, this term is not limiting and includes variousforms of controllable selective couplers.

The controller may be configured to regulate the power availability tothe AC loads based on other factors than those described and/or duringtimes when the grid power is within specification. For example, thecontroller could receive a signal (e.g., from a power company supplyingthe grid power) to control management of the load switches to switch offair conditioning, or other items, during peak times. As another example,the controller could control the load switches to manage poweravailability dependent on the time of day (e.g., peak vs. off-peak) tomanage power draw from the grid, e.g., based on the present rate forpower.

Other embodiments are within the scope of the description and claims.For example, referring to FIG. 8, an energy distribution system 410includes a communication module 412, a usage broadcaster 414,measurement nodes 416, 418, and a grid sensor and load managementcontroller 420. The nodes 416, 418 are configured and connected tomeasure/monitor lines connected to loads such that the loads aremonitored loads. The nodes 416, 418 and the broadcaster 414 arepreferably configured to wirelessly communicate (e.g., using radiofrequency (RF) signals, ZigBee signals, etc.) such that the usagebroadcaster 414 can receive information from the nodes 416, 418regarding the energy delivered to the monitored loads. Alternatively,the nodes 416, 418 can communicate with the broadcaster 414 through oneor more wired connections. The nodes 416, 418 can be of various forms,e.g., clamp-on monitors, feed-through monitors, “smart breakers,” etc.For example, clamp-on monitors could be used for feeds from a utility toa user's main panel. The broadcaster 414 is preferably wired to thesensor/controller 420 and the communication module 412 and configured tosend information, e.g., digitally, to the controller 420 and the module412. The communication module 412, e.g., a wireless card, is preferablyconfigured to wirelessly communicate with remotely-located devices toprovide information regarding the system 410, although a wiredcommunication connection may be used. The system 410 can be remotelymonitored by receiving information from the module 412 and remotelymanaged by providing commands to the controller 420 through the module412. For example, a user such as an end-user/homeowner, aninstaller/warranty provider, a third-party owner-operator, a utilitycompany, a third-party “aggregator” selling information to a utilitycompany, etc. can monitor the system 410. The user can manage loads forenergy efficiency, e.g., controlling an electric water heater as thoughthe heater had a programmable thermostat. A graphical user interface(GUI) can be provided to the user via the communication module 412,e.g., at a web page, to show the energy usage, renewable energyproduction, etc. by the system 410. A remote terminal (e.g., physicallysimilar to a programmable thermostat) could be provided to a user toshow the energy usage, renewable energy production, etc. by the system410. Information regarding the system 410 can be provided in variousforms, e.g., as a percent of optimal operation, as scientific units(e.g., “The system produced 13.4 kWh today.”), etc. A user can also beinformed of environmental benefits of the system 410 (e.g., “The systemsaved X grams of CO2 today.”).

Still other embodiments are within the scope of the description andclaims. For example, while the description above discussed connectingdelayable loads based upon available power and power used by the loads,other factors may be used, alone or in combination, at stages 316, 334to determine which delayable loads to power that may result in differentusage of available power, e.g., not maximizing the amount of availablepower used. For example, delayable loads may have priorities associatedwith them, maximum off times, and/or minimum on times, etc. Thus, usingthe example of non-delayable loads of Load1 of 10 W, Load2 of 20 W (withLoad1 having higher priority than Load2), and delayable loads Load3 of30 W, and Load4 of 40 W, with 72 W of solar power available, Load1,Load2, and Load4 are initially connected, maximizing utilization of theavailable power (using 70 of 72 W available watts). If Load3 has amaximum off time of 45 minutes and a minimum on time of 10 minutes, thenthese times may override the power use maximization at stages 316, 334.After 45 minutes of Load1, Load2, and Load4 being connected (70 Wtotal), the controller 236 will disconnect Load4 and connect Load3 inorder to comply with Load3's maximum off time, despite the aggregateload being only 60 W of 72 W available. The controller 236 will keepLoad3 connected for its 10 minute minimum on time, then revert tomaximizing the total load by disconnecting Load3 and connecting Load4(restoring 70 W load). If priorities were assigned to delayable loads,these could also override maximization of delivered power. For example,if Load3 had a higher priority than Load4, then the controller 46 wouldconnect Load1, Load2, and Load3 for a 60 W aggregate, despite the 70 Wcombination of Load1, Load2, and Load4 being higher.

Still other embodiments are within the scope of the description andclaims. For example, an auxiliary energy source could take forms otherthan an energy storage device and a DC-DC converter, such as a DC-outputgenerator. Further still, the load switches may have otherconfigurations. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, an alternative loadswitch 900, for use in systems disclosed herein, has four selectableterminals where a fourth terminal 902 is connected to an AC source 904other than the grid, such as an AC generator. A load switch 900 ispreferably provided for each AC load. Also, other configurations of apower switch are possible. As shown in FIG. 9B, a power switch 910 cancouple either the electric grid or the AC generator 904 to the AC loadswitches. The power from the AC generator 904 may be combined with ACpower from the DC-AC converter and provided to the AC load switches. Asensor and controller 914 is connected and configured to sense powerfrom the grid and the AC generator 904, control the state of the switch910, and control the mode of the DC-AC converter 912. If thesensor/controller 914 determines that an electric grid with acceptableAC power available is connected to the switch 910, then the controller914 activates the switch 910 such that the DC-AC converter 912 isconnected to the grid and sends a CSI signal to the DC-AC converter 912to cause the converter 912 to operate in CSI mode. If thesensor/controller 914 determines that there is no electric grid withacceptable AC power available connected to the switch 910 and the ACgenerator 904 is providing acceptable power, then the controller 914activates the switch 910 such that the AC generator 904 is connected tothe DC-AC converter 912 and sends the CSI signal to the converter 912.If the sensor/controller 914 determines that there is no electric gridwith acceptable AC power available connected to the switch 910 and theAC generator 904 is not providing acceptable power, then the controller914 activates the switch 910 such that the DC-AC converter 912 isisolated from both the electric grid and the generator 904 and sends aVSI signal to the converter 912. Further still, DC input power may bereceived from sources other than solar panels, such as from sourcesproviding electrical energy derived from wind, geothermal sources, water(e.g., dams, tidal, wave), anaerobic digestion, and/or biofuels, etc.

In operation, referring to FIG. 10, with further reference to FIGS. 1-4and 6, a process 300 includes the stages shown. The process 300 is anexemplary embodiment of portions of the process 710 shown in FIG. 7. Inthe process 300, delayable loads are not permitted to be powered from anenergy storage device. The process 300 provides for controlling whatload connections to make or break depending upon load amounts, availablepower, and energy storage capacity. Stages 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312,314, 316 address attempting to power more loads, stages 318, 320, 322address handling of excess power, and stages 318, 324, 326, 328, 330,332, 334, 336 address management of connections when the load exceedspower available. The process 300, however, is exemplary only and notlimiting. The process 300 may be altered, e.g., by having stages added,removed, or rearranged. For example, stages 306, 308, 320, 322, 328, 332are preferably omitted for systems such as the system 20 that do nothave energy storage devices, but are preferably included for systemssuch as the system 230 that include energy storage devices.

At stage 302, an inquiry is made regarding which non-delayable loads areconnected. The controller 46, 236 determines whether all non-delayableloads are connected to the DC-AC converter 36, 238 to receive energyfrom the solar panels 16. If all of the non-delayable loads are soconnected, then the process 300 proceeds to stage 312 described below,and otherwise proceeds to stage 304.

At stage 304, with less than all non-delayable loads connected to theconverter 36, an inquiry is made regarding the amount of availableenergy from the solar panels 16. The controller 46, 236 determineswhether sufficient solar power is available for the highest priority,currently disconnected, non-delayable load permitted to be connected toreceive solar power. If sufficient energy is available from the solarpanels 16 for a permitted load, then the process 300 proceeds to stage310 described below, and otherwise proceeds to stage 306.

At stage 306, with insufficient energy from the solar panels 16available for the highest priority, currently disconnected,non-delayable load permitted to receive solar power, or for the highestpriority, currently disconnected, non-delayable load not permitted toreceive solar power, an inquiry is made as to whether there issufficient stored energy available for the highest priority, currentlydisconnected, non-delayable load permitted to receive power from storedenergy. The controller 46, 236 determines whether an energy storagedevice exists and has sufficient energy stores, when combined with theavailable solar energy, for powering the highest priority load that iscurrently disconnected, is non-delayable, and is permitted to beconnected to receive power from the energy storage device. If sufficientstored energy is not available and/or no such permitted load exists,then the process 300 proceeds to stage 318 described below, andotherwise proceeds to stage 308.

At stage 308, stored energy is used to help power the highest prioritynon-delayable load allowed to receive power from an energy storagedevice. The controller 236 causes the appropriate switch of the switches242-245 to connect the highest priority non-delayable load, that waspreviously disconnected, and that has permission to receive power fromthe energy storage device. The controller 236 further causes energy fromthe storage device 234 to be input via the DC-DC converter 232 inparallel with energy from the solar panels 16 to power thenewly-connected load. The process 300 proceeds to stage 318 describedbelow.

At stage 310, the highest priority, currently disconnected,non-delayable load allowed to solar power is connected to receive energyfrom the solar panels 16. The controller 46, 236 actuates theappropriate switch of the switches 42-45, 242-245 to connect thecurrently disconnected, highest priority non-delayable load, withappropriate permission, to receive energy from the solar panels 16, thecontroller 46, 236 having determined that sufficient energy is availablefrom the solar panels 16 for powering this load and that the load isappropriately cleared for such connection. The process 300 proceeds tostage 318 described below.

At stage 312, with the controller 46 having determined that allnon-delayable loads are connected, an inquiry is made regarding theconnectivity of delayble loads. The controller 46, 236 determineswhether all delayable loads are currently connected to receive power. Ifso, then the process 300 proceeds to stage 318 described below, andotherwise proceeds to stage 314.

At stage 314, with less than all delayable loads connected to theconverter 36, 238, an inquiry is made regarding whether sufficient solarpower is available for a disconnected delayable load that is permittedto receive solar power. The controller 46, 236 determines whethersufficient additional solar power is available for a currentlydisconnected delayable load with clearance to receive solar power. Ifsuch power is not available from the solar panels 16 for a permittedload, then the process 300 proceeds to stage 318 described below, andotherwise proceeds to stage 316.

At stage 316, one or more of the delayable loads that are currentlydisconnected and permitted to receive solar power are connected toreceive such solar power. The controller 46, 236 preferably connects anddisconnects (as appropriate) the delayable load or loads so that a totalload on the DC-AC converter 36, 238 and the solar panels 16 is maximizedwithout exceeding a threshold power point (TPP, e.g., a maximum powerpoint, MPP). Alternatively, criteria other than maximizing the totalload within the TPP may be used to determine which load(s) to connect.The controller 46, 236 preferably determines which of the disconnecteddelayable loads with solar power receipt permission can be connected toreceive such power such that the combined power drawn by thethen-connected delayable loads will be the highest available load thatis less than the TPP in aggregate, given the already-connected delayableand non-delayable loads. The process 300 proceeds to stage 318.

At stage 318, an inquiry is made regarding the total power drawn by theconnected loads versus the TPP. The controller 46, 236 sums the powerdrawn by the various loads on the lines 62-65, 262-265 to determine thetotal power drawn by the loads presently. The controller 46, 236 candetermine the TPP, or its equivalent, in many ways such as by monitoringthe voltage from the solar panels to the converter 36, 238. Thecontroller 46, 236 determines whether the present total load is greaterthan the TPP. If the present total load is greater than the TPP, thenthe process 300 proceeds to stage 324 described below, and otherwise (ifthe total load is less than or equal to the TPP), then the process 300proceeds to stage 320.

At stage 320, with the total load being less than or equal to the TPP,an inquiry is made as to whether there is energy storage available. Thecontroller 236 determines whether there is energy storage available bydetermining whether the energy storage device 234 is present, and if so,if it is full. If no energy storage is available, e.g., because there iseither no storage device 234 or the energy storage device 234 is full,then the process 300 proceeds to stage 302 and otherwise proceeds tostage 322.

At stage 322, with it having been determined that energy storage isavailable, excess energy is stored in the energy storage device 234. Thecontroller 236 sends control signals to the DC-DC converter 232 toadjust the amount of power drawn from the solar panels 16 into the DC-DCconverter 232. For example, the controller 236 can cause a pulse widthmodulator in the DC-DC converter 232 to adjust its duty cycle to drawmore power, causing more power to be sent to the energy storage device234. The process 300 returns to the stage 302.

At stage 324, with the aggregate power drawn by the loads being greaterthan the TPP, an inquiry is made as to whether a single load is greaterthan the TPP and whether there is stored energy available. Thecontroller 46, 236 determines if there is a single load whose power drawis greater than the TPP and no stored energy is available. If this isthe case, then the process 300 proceeds to stage 336 described below,and otherwise proceeds to stage 326.

At stage 326, with a single load not exceeding the TPP and/or storedenergy being available, an inquiry is made as to the connectivity ofdelayable loads. The controller 46, 236 determines whether any delayableloads are currently connected to the converter 36, 238. This inquiry ispreferably made before an inquiry regarding availability of storedenergy (see stage 328 described below), in order to shed delayable loadsbefore using stored energy. If there are delayable loads currentlyconnected, then the process 300 proceeds to stage 334 described below,and otherwise proceeds to stage 328.

At stage 328, with it having been determined that there are no delayableloads connected, an inquiry is made regarding available stored energy.The controller 236 determines whether there is sufficient stored energyavailable in the device 234, in conjunction with the energy from thesolar panels 16, for powering the non-delayable loads permitted toreceive power from stored energy, i.e., to at least make up thedifference between the present load and the power available from thesolar panels 16. If so, then the process 300 proceeds to stage 332described below and otherwise proceeds to stage 330.

At stage 330, with no energy storage device being present or with thecontroller 236 having determined that there is insufficient storedenergy available to be combined with the energy from the solar panels 16to power all of the currently-connected non-delayable loads permitted toreceive power from stored energy, the controller 46, 236 actuates theappropriate switch of the switches 42-45, 242-245 to disconnect thecurrently-connected, lowest priority, non-permitted non-delayable loador, if none, the lowest priority, currently-connected, permittednon-delayable load. The process 300 returns to stage 302.

At stage 332, stored energy is used to assist in powering thecurrently-connected loads. The controller 236 causes energy from theenergy storage device 234 to be input in parallel with energy from thesolar panels 16 to make up the difference between the total load and theTPP from the solar panels 16. For example, the controller 236 canregulate a pulse width modulator in the DC-DC converter 232 to draw thedifferential power from the energy storage device 234.

At stage 334, with the controller 46, 236 having determined that thereare delayable loads connected for receiving power, one or more delayableloads is disconnected. The controller 46, 236 actuates one or moreappropriate switches of the switches 42-45, 242-245 to disconnect andconnect (as appropriate) one or more delayable loads so that theremaining combination of connected loads draws as much power aspossible, given the power draws of the presently connected delayableloads, from the DC-AC converter 36, 238 without exceeding the TPP ifpossible. The process 300 returns to stage 302.

At stage 336, with the controller 46, 236 having determined that asingle load exceeds the TPP and insufficient stored energy is availableto power the single load when combined with the solar energy, the loadexceeding the TPP is disconnected from the converter 36, 238. Thecontroller 46, 236 actuates the appropriate switch from the switches42-45, 242-245 to disconnect the single load whose power draw exceedsthe TPP, regardless of the delayability or priority of this load. Theprocess 300 returns to stage 302.

The process 300 repeats to continuously adjust the load connections inorder to adjust which loads are connected based on the available power.The controller 46, 236 preferably causes all non-delayable loads to bepowered if sufficient energy is available. Preferably, non-delayableloads are prioritized and powered in accordance with their priorities ifinsufficient energy is available to power all of the non-delayableloads, including energy from an energy storage device. The controller46, 236 further preferably causes excess energy to be stored if anenergy storage device is available and uses available stored energy tosupport non-delayable loads when insufficient energy is available fromthe solar panels 16. Further, the controller 46, 236 preferablymaximizes the delayable load power draw within the bounds of availablepower, e.g., if insufficient energy is available to power all of thedelayable loads.

Other embodiments of processes for determining which loads to connect toreceive power, and connecting those loads to receive power, may be used.For example, in the process 300, stage 326 is performed before stage 328in order to shed delayable load before using stored energy. The stage328 inquiry, however, could be made before the stage 326 inquiry, e.g.,if it is preferred to use stored energy before shedding delayable load.Further, in embodiments where no energy storage device is available,determinations of available stored energy, available energy storage, orexistence of an energy storage device, may be omitted.

Example 1

For this example, portions of the process 300 are explained for anexemplary embodiment of the system 20. In this example, there are fourloads (Load1 with a load of 10 W, Load2 with a load of 20 W, Load3 witha load of 30 W, Load4 with a load of 40 W), two being non-delayable(Load1 being higher priority than Load2) and two being delayable, andthere is no energy storage device. Further, the example begins at ornear sunrise, such that there has been no solar energy for some time,but the solar panels 16 are beginning to receive solar energy. It isalso assumed that the grid power is down and that each of the switches42-45 are in the disconnect position, connecting the loads 62-65 toneither the power lines 50, 52 nor the DC-AC converter 36.

As solar energy comes available, the controller 46 monitors the solarenergy relative to the load energy for the highest-prioritynon-delayable load until sufficient solar energy exists for poweringthis load. At stage 302, the controller 46 determines that allnon-delayable loads are not connected, and thus the process 300 proceedsto stage 304. In stage 304, the controller 46 determines thatinsufficient solar energy exists, e.g., 8 W, for powering Load1, leadingto stage 306 where the controller 46 determines that there is notsufficient stored energy, here 0 W, for powering Load1. The process 300thus proceeds to stage 318. Here, there is no load and some minor amountof available power, e.g., 2 W, so the load is less than the TPP. Theprocess 300 proceeds to stage 320 where the controller 46 determinesthat there is no energy storage available so the process 300 returns tostage 302. This flow continues until enough solar energy exists forpowering the highest-priority non-delayable load.

Assuming the solar power available reaches 10+W, e.g., 11 W, Load1 isconnected to receive the solar energy. Once this condition exists, thecontroller 46, at stage 310, causes the appropriate switch, e.g., theswitch 42, to connect Load1 to the converter 36 to receive energy fromthe solar panels 16. At stage 318, the load is less than the TPP, butthere is no energy storage, so the process 300 proceeds through stage320 and returns to stage 302.

The previous flow through the process 300, namely stages 302, 304, 306,318 320, 302 . . . recurs until sufficient energy is available forpowering the next-highest-priority non-delayable load, here Load2.Assuming enough energy is eventually provided by the panels 16, e.g., 32W, then the process 300 will proceed through stages 302, 304, 310 toconnect Load2 to the converter 36. If further non-delayable loadsexisted, then the flows described above would repeat to connect thoseloads, assuming the panels 16 provided sufficient energy.

Once all the non-delayable loads are connected, the controller 46determines whether sufficient power exists to connect delayable loads,and if so, does so. With all non-delayable loads connected to theconverter 36, but no delayable loads connected to the converter 36, theprocess 300 moves from stage 302 to 312 and then stage 314. If solarenergy exceeding 60 W (power for Load1+Load2+Load3 (thelowest-power-using delayable load)) is not available from the converter36, then the process 300 proceeds to stages 318, 320, 302, 312 andreturns to stage 314 until at least 60 W, e.g., 64 W, is available, atwhich point the process 300 proceeds to stage 316. At stage 316, thecontroller 46 determines that Load3 can be connected to the converter 36without overloading the converter 36 to maximize the usage of theavailable energy. If 75 W were available, then the controller 46 wouldconnect Load4 to the converter 36, and disconnect Load3 if presentlyconnected. The controller 46 causes the appropriate load(s), here Load3with 64 W total available, to be connected to the converter 36. Theprocess 300 proceeds through stages 318, 320, 302, 312, 314 as long asless than all delayable loads are connected and the load does not exceedthe TPP. The process 300 proceeds to connect Load4 when the totalavailable power exceeds 100 W. Assuming all delayable loads are alsoconnected to the converter 36 and the total load does not exceed theTPP, then the process 300 will loop through stages 302, 312, 318, 320,302 . . . .

If at any point the total load exceeds the TPP, then the process 300works to reduce the load. The total load may exceed the TPP as a resultof the amount of solar energy available decreasing, e.g., due to cloudcover, sun setting, etc., and/or the desired load increasing (e.g., aload is turned on and/or increases its power demand, e.g., a user turnson a microwave, a refrigerator controller increases power usage, etc.).For example, if the TPP decreases from 64 W to 52 W, then at stage 318controller 46 determines that the load exceeds the TPP, and the process300 proceeds to stage 324. At stage 324, the controller 46 determineswhether there is a single load that exceeds the available power, i.e.,the TPP and any stored energy (an “impossible” load under thecircumstances). If so, then the controller 46 disconnects the load fromthe converter 36 at stage 336 by putting the corresponding switch 42-45to its disconnect position. Here, the total load exceeds the TPP, but asingle load does not exceed the available power, and thus the controller46 determines, at stage 326, that there is a delayable load, Load3,connected to the converter 36, and causes Load3 to be disconnected atstage 334. If the available power had decreased from 104 W (with allfour loads connected) to 93 W, then the controller 46 would disconnectLoad3 at stage 334 and leave Load4 connected to maximize the availablepower used. If the available power decreases further, e.g., from 52 W to26 W, then the controller 46 will determine that the load exceeds theTPP (stage 318), that a single load is not responsible for the powerdeficiency (stage 324), that no delayable loads are connected (stage326), that no stored energy is available (stage 328), and thus cause thelowest-priority currently-connected non-delayable load, here Load2, tobe disconnected at stage 330 by moving the corresponding switch, herethe switch 43, to its disconnect position. If available power dropsbelow 10 W, then the controller 46 will also disconnect Load1 at stage330. If the power increases again, e.g., cloud cover clears, then moreloads can be connected as appropriate through stages 316, 310.

Example 2

For this example, portions of the process 300 are explained for anexemplary embodiment of the system 230. In this example, there are fourloads (Load1 with a load of 10 W, Load2 with a load of 20 W, Load3 witha load of 30 W, Load4 with a load of 40 W), two being non-delayable(Load1 being higher priority than Load2) and two being delayable, and anenergy storage device, here a battery, 234. Further, the example beginsat or near a loss of grid power, with the battery 234 fully charged andcapable of providing 25 W, and the panels 16 receiving solar energy with200 W of energy being available from the panels 16. Thus, each of theswitches 242-245 are connecting their respective loads 262-265 to therespective power lines 250, 252, not to the converter 238. Referring toFIG. 4, the controller 236 determines at stage 114 that the power gridis out of spec. Thus, at stage 122, the controller decouples theconverter 238 from the power grid by opening the switch 240, and atstage 124, sends the CSI/VSI signal to the converter 238 to enter VSImode. At stages 126, 128, 130, as more fully illustrated and explainedby the process 300 of FIG. 10, the controller 236 determines which loadsto connect/disconnect for/from receiving power, and connects/disconnectsthe appropriate loads.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 10, the controller 236 acts to connect loads tothe converter 238 in accordance with their power draws and availablepower from the panels 16 and the battery 234. The controller 236determines at stage 302 that less than all, for now none, of the loadsare connected to the converter 238, determines at stage 304 thatsufficient solar power is available to power Load1, and causes theswitch 262 to connect Load1 to the converter 238 at stage 310. Thecontroller 236 determines at stage 318 that the total load of 10 W isless than the 200 W of TPP, and determines at stage 320 that there is noenergy storage available because the battery 234 is full. The process300 returns to stages 302 and the controller 236 determines at stage 304that there is enough solar power for Load2 and connects Load2 to theconverter 238 at stage 310. The process 300 flows through stages 318 and320 again and returns to stage 302. At stage 302, the controller 236determines that Load1 and Load2 are connected to the converter 238 andthus determines at stage 312 that less than all, here none, of thedelayable loads Load3, Load4 are connected to the converter 238. Thecontroller 236 determines at stage 314 that additional solar power isavailable for Load3 and Load4 (200 W−10 W−20 W>30 W+40 W) and connectsLoad3 and Load4 to the converter 238. With all the loads connected, theprocess 300 cycles through stages 302, 312, 318, 320 until a change instatus occurs.

If the solar energy available decreases and/or the load increases suchthat the total load exceeds the TPP, then the controller 236 evaluateswhether to disconnect any load(s) and if so, which load(s). For example,if the solar power available from the panels decreases below 100 W,e.g., to 78 W, then the controller 236 determines at stage 318 that theload exceeds the TPP, determines at stage 324 that a single load doesnot exceed the TPP, determines at stage 326 that delayable loads Load3,Load4 are connected, and disconnects Load3 from the converter 238 bymoving the switch 244 to its disconnect position. If the available solarpower drops to any power less than the non-delayable load total plus thecurrently-connected delayable load total, then the controller 236re-determines which, if any, delayable loads to connect to the converter238. If the power drops to, e.g., 63 W, then the controller 236disconnects Load4 from the converter 238 by moving the switch 245 to itsdisconnect position and connects Load3 to the converter 238 by movingthe switch 244 to connect the load line 264 to the converter 238. If thesolar energy decreases below the non-delayable load total, then thecontroller 236 will attempt to power the non-delayable loads using thebattery 234. For example, if the solar power decreases to 27 W, then thecontroller 236 will determine at stage 318 that the load exceeds theTPP, determine at stage 324 that a single load does not exceed the TPP,determine at stage 326 that no delayable loads are connected, determineat stage 328 that sufficient stored energy is available to supplementthe solar energy to power the present total load (27 W+25 W>30 W), andconnect the battery 234 in parallel with the panels 16 at stage 332. Thecontroller 236 controls the duty cycle of the PWM 233 to send thedesired amount of power to the converter 238 (e.g., 3 W positive, i.e.,sourced from the converter 232). If the combined solar and stored energydecreases below the total non-delayable load, e.g., 28 W total, then thecontroller 236 disconnects, at stage 330, the lowest priority presentlyconnected non-delayable load, here Load2. If the total solar power andstored energy drops below the last connected non-delayable load, e.g.,drops to 6 W (6 W solar and 0 W battery), then the controller 236determines at stage 318 that the load exceeds the TPP (10 W>4 W),determines at stage 324 that a single load exceeds the TPP and thatinsufficient stored energy is available to combine with the solar energyto power the load (2 W<6 W (i.e., 10 W-4 W)), and disconnects the singleload at stage 336.

If the battery 234 has been depleted at least partially, then thecontroller 236 can charge the battery 234 if energy is available fromthe solar panels 16. If the solar energy available, e.g., 72 W, exceedsthe power used by the connected loads, here 70 W (the two non-delayableloads, Load1 and Load2, plus the delayable load, Load4), then thecontroller 236 can determine at stage 320 that energy storage in thebattery 234 is available and store the difference, here 2 W negative(i.e., pulled into the converter 232), between the TPP and the totalload of the connected loads in the battery 234. The controller 236 canmanage the amount of energy stored by controlling the duty cycle of thePWM 233 in the bidirectional DC-DC converter 232 to draw the appropriateamount of energy from the solar panels 16 while leaving sufficientenergy to power the connected loads. The controller 236 may storeslightly less than the difference between the TPP and the load to helpensure proper powering of the connected loads.

Example 3

For this example, portions of the process 300 are explained for anexemplary embodiment of the system 230. In this example, there are fourloads (Load1 with a load of 10 W, Load2 with a load of 20 W, Load3 witha load of 30 W, Load4 with a load of 40 W), two being non-delayable(Load1 being higher priority than Load2) and two being delayable, and anenergy storage device, here a battery, 234. Further, the example beginsat or near a loss of grid power, with the battery 234 fully charged andcapable of providing 25 W, and the panels 16 receiving no solar energyand thus 0 W of energy being available from the panels 16. Thus, each ofthe switches 242-245 are connecting their respective loads 262-265 tothe respective power lines 250, 252, not to the converter 238. Referringto FIG. 4, the controller 236 determines at stage 114 that the powergrid is out of spec. Thus, at stage 122, the controller decouples theconverter 238 from the power grid by opening the switch 240, and atstage 124, sends the CSI/VSI signal to the converter 238 to enter VSImode. At stages 126, 128, 130, as more fully illustrated and explainedby the process 300 of FIG. 10, the controller 236 determines which loadsto connect/disconnect for/from receiving power, and connects/disconnectsthe appropriate loads.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 10, the controller 236 can attempt to powernon-delayable loads using the battery 234. The controller 236 determinesat stage 302 that none of the non-delayable loads Load1, Load2 areconnected to the converter 238, determines at stage 304 that solar powerfor the Load1 is not available, determines at stage 306 that sufficientstored energy in the battery 234 is available for powering Load1, andprovides the power from the battery 234 to power Load1 by controllingthe PWM 233 to draw 10 W from the battery 234. Similarly, the controller236 could power Load2 if the battery had at least 30 W of poweravailable. Here, however, the controller 236 determines at stage 306that the battery 234 has insufficient energy to power the highestpriority presently disconnected non-delayable load, i.e., Load2 (25 W<10W+20 W).

In operation, referring to FIG. 11, with further reference to FIGS. 1-4,6, 7, and 9, a process 800 includes the stages shown. The process 800 isan exemplary embodiment of portions of the process 710 shown in FIG. 7,and shares many features with the process 300 shown in FIG. 10. In theprocess 800, stages similar to those in FIG. 10 have identical numbersand their descriptions are supplemented, altered for the process 800, oromitted in this discussion. The process 800 controls power provision toloads from alternative power sources, here a solar power source, e.g.,solar panels 16 (although the process 800 is not limited to solarpower), an AC generator such as generator 904, and an energy storagedevice such as the device 234. The process 800 is exemplary only and notlimiting. The process 800 may be altered, e.g., by having stages added,removed, or rearranged. For example, stages 326 and 327 discussed belowmay have their order interchanged (along with corresponding stages 333,334). The process 800 shows that power is preferably used according to apriority of solar power first, then generator power, then stored energy.The process 800 also shows that there is a preference to connectnon-delayable loads before delayable loads, and if power consumption isto be reduced, to shed delayable loads before non-delayable loads, andto shed loads not permitted to use stored energy before using orincreasing the use of stored energy.

At stages 302 and 312, inquiries are made as to whether all permittednon-delayable or delayable loads are connected, respectively. Only if anon-connected non-delayable load is permitted to receive power from oneof the alternative energy sources will the process 800 proceed fromstage 302 to stage 304. Similarly, only if a non-connected delayableload is permitted to receive power from one of the alternative energysources will the process 800 proceed from stage 312 to stage 314.

Stages 304, 305, 306, 308, 309, 310 illustrate that a controlleranalyzes whether power is available from the alternative sources inorder of priority for powering the currently-disconnected,highest-priority, non-delayable loads. If there is appropriate poweravailable, and the source/load combination is permitted (authorized),then the load is connected to the appropriate DC-to-AC converter (e.g.,for the sources 16, 234), and/or to the generator. After stages 308,309, and 310, the process returns to stages 306, 305, and 304,respectively, to determine if another load may be connected due tosufficient available stored energy, generator power, or solar power,respectively.

Stages 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 319, illustrate that a controlleranalyzes whether power is available from the alternative sources inorder of priority for powering the currently-disconnected delayableloads. At stage 315, the appropriate load(s) is(are) connected to thegenerator so that a total load on the generator is preferably maximizedwithout exceeding a power limit of the generator. At stage 319, powerfrom the energy storage device is input in parallel with solar power, ifany, provided to the corresponding load(s).

Decision stages 326, 327, and 329, and their associated operationstages, illustrate that if the power drawn from the DC-to-AC converterexceeds available power, delayable loads are disconnected before usingstored energy to power the loads. At stage 334, with it having beendetermined at stage 326 that at least one delayable load is connected,one or more connected delayable loads are selected and disconnected totry to maximize load on the DC-to-AC converter without exceeding theTPP. At stage 327, with no delayable loads connected, the controllerinquires as to whether any connected loads are not permitted to usestored energy. If there are such loads, then the process 800 proceeds tostage 333 where one or more non-delayable loads not permitted to usestored energy are disconnected to try to maximize the load on theDC-to-AC converter without exceeding the TPP. At stage 329, with onlynon-delayable loads permitted to use stored energy connected to drawpower, the controller determines if there is sufficient stored energyavailable to power the connected loads. If there is sufficient power,then the process 800 proceeds to stage 332, and otherwise proceeds tostage 331. At stage 331, the controller causes the lowest prioritynon-delayable load to be disconnected, thereby ceasing to draw power.

At stage 341, the controller determines whether a total load on thegenerator is greater than the generator power limit. If not, then theprocess 800 returns to stage 302, and otherwise proceeds to stage 343.

At stage 343, the controller determines whether there are any delayableloads connected. If there are no delayable loads currently connected,then the process 800 proceeds to stage 347 where the controller causesthe lowest priority non-delayable load to be disconnected, therebyceasing to draw power. If the controller determines at stage 343 thatthere are delayable loads connected, then the process 800 proceeds tostage 345.

At stage 345, with the controller having determined that there aredelayable loads connected for receiving power, one or more delayableloads are disconnected. The controller actuates one or more appropriateload switches to disconnect and connect (as appropriate) one or moredelayable loads so that the remaining combination of connected loadsdraws as much power as possible, given the power draws of the presentlyconnected delayable loads, from the generator without exceeding thegenerator's power limit if possible. The process 800 returns to stage302.

FIG. 11 is exemplary, and many modifications are possible. For example,flow from stages 333 and 334 may proceed to stage 318 instead of 341,which may increase the speed at which a steady state of connected loadsis reached. Further, loads may be assigned maximum off times and/orminimum on times, and/or may have their permissions changed, and/or mayhave their characteristics (e.g., delayable/non-delayable status)changed. Preferably, if status or permission is changed, it is changedon a temporary basis. The duration of the change may be constant, or mayvary depending on desired criteria (e.g., time of day). Thus, forexample, a delayable load may be assigned a maximum off time which, ifexceeded, causes the controller to reassign the load temporarily fromdelayable status to non-delayable status. As another example, a load notpermitted to use stored energy may have its permission changedtemporarily to allow it to use stored energy, e.g., if its assignedmaximum off time is exceeded. Further, these alternatives apply toembodiments other than that shown in FIG. 11, e.g., other embodiments ofFIG. 7 including embodiments of FIG. 10.

Still other embodiments are within the scope of the description andclaims. For example, DC-AC converters and controllable switches may bephysically disposed in a common container or box. Further, controland/or sensor functionality may be contained in DC-AC converters. Also,the converter 238 is shown in FIG. 6 with a single pair of inputs orports for receiving DC power from multiple DC sources, but in practicethe single pair of inputs shown in FIG. 6 may be implemented withmultiple pairs of physically separate inputs. The multiple pairs may beconnected to different points of the converter 238, e.g., with linesfrom the solar panels 16 connected to a voltage boost stage, and linesfrom the energy storage device 234 connected between the boost stage anda DC-to-AC conversion stage. The single pair of inputs or multiple pairsof inputs may be referred to as an input. Similarly, multiple physicallyseparate connections between a power delivery system and a power gridmay be referred to as an input. Also, the DC power provided frommultiple sources may be combined before conversion to AC power or,equivalently, converted to AC power and then combined, with portions ofthe AC power being derived from their respective DC sources. The ACpower provided to one or more AC loads may be solely from one source orfrom multiple sources (either DC and/or AC). Further, a unidirectionalsource, e.g., the solar panels, is preferably protected from back-feedof power (as opposed to the bi-directional DC-DC 232), using knowntechniques such as diodes in the lines connecting the unidirectionalsource to the DC-AC converter.

Still other embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure andclaims. For example, in a grid-tied converter system including analternative energy source (e.g., solar panels, wind power source, etc.)and an electric panel connected to a power grid and to multiple ACloads, a power converter may be configured to act as a current sourceinverter providing AC current to the power grid if the power grid isproviding an acceptable quality of power and to act as a voltage sourceinverter providing AC voltage to the AC loads if the power grid isproviding an unacceptable quality of power. As a further example, apower converter system may include a DC-to-AC power converter; a firstoutput configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first inputconfigured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs eachconfigured to be coupled to an AC load; a power-grid switch coupled tothe converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to theconverter, the second outputs, and the first input; a controller coupledto the load switches and to the first output and configured to determinewhether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, thecontroller being further configured to control the power-grid switch andthe load switches to couple the converter to the first output and tocouple the first input to the second outputs if the at least onecriterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switchand the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output andto selectively couple the converter to the second outputs; a DC sourcecoupled to the controller and to the DC-to-AC power converter;measurement nodes configured to monitor energy provided to AC loads andto provide first information regarding the monitored energy; a usagebroadcaster configured to communicate with the measurement nodes and tothe controller to receive the first information from the measurementnodes and provide second information, related to the first information,to the controller; and a communication module coupled to the controllerand the usage broadcaster and configured to send third information,related to the second information, toward a device and to receive fourthinformation from the device and send commands related to the fourthinformation to the controller.

Still other embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure andclaims. For example, embodiments of power delivery systems may be usedthat do not connect to, and possibly do not have a connection for, apower grid. The VSI mode of the DC-to-AC converter is equally applicablewhether or not the system can receive power from, or supply power to, apower grid. Where no power grid is to be connected to the power deliverysystem, some simplifications relative to the systems described above arepossible. For example, the load switches preferably would have noconnection point for connection to a power grid (e.g., the switches92-95 in FIG. 3 could have only two terminals for connection to the loadterminal), the sensor/controller could be simplified not to includeconnections and a sensor to sense a grid, and no power grid switch isneeded (e.g., the switch 40 in FIG. 3 could be eliminated).

Further, more than one invention may be described herein.

1. A power converter system comprising: a DC-to-AC power converter; afirst output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first inputconfigured to be coupled to the power grid; a plurality of secondoutputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; apower-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; aplurality of load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs,and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches andto the first output and configured to determine whether energy from thepower grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller beingfurther configured to control the power-grid switch and the loadswitches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple thefirst input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion issatisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the loadswitches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couplethe converter to at least one of the second outputs.
 2. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the controller is configured to provide a modeindication signal to the converter depending upon whether the at leastone criterion is satisfied.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein theconverter is configured to operate in a CSI mode or in a VSI mode inaccordance with the mode indication signal received from the controller.4. The system of claim 3 wherein in the CSI mode the converter isconfigured to provide energy at the voltage of the first output with acorresponding current according to an amount of power available from theconverter, and wherein in the VSI mode the converter is configured toprovide energy at a predetermined voltage with a current determined bythe AC loads coupled to the second outputs.
 5. The system of claim 4wherein the predetermined voltage is approximately the same as a voltageprovided by the power grid when the power grid is operational.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the at least one criterion comprises at leastone of an acceptable range of voltage and an acceptable range offrequency.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to determine that the system is not unintentionallyislanding.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is coupled tothe second outputs and is configured to control the AC load switches tochange a distribution of power provided by the converter to portions ofthe second output if power provided to the second outputs is above anamount of power available to the converter.
 9. The system of claim 8wherein the controller is configured to cause the AC load switchassociated with the lowest-priority, presently-connected, non-delayableAC load to isolate the converter from the corresponding second output ifthe power provided to the second outputs is above the amount of poweravailable to the converter.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the loadswitches are configured to be positioned in a first state connecting thesecond outputs to the converter, in a second state connecting the secondoutputs to the first input, and in a third state connecting the secondoutputs to neither the converter nor the first input.
 11. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising a second input configured to be coupled to anAC power source separate from the power grid wherein the load switchesare further coupled to the second input.
 12. The system of claim 11wherein the load switches are configured to be positioned in a firststate connecting the second outputs to the converter, in a second stateconnecting the second outputs to the first input, in a third stateconnecting the second outputs to the second input, and in a fourth stateconnecting the second outputs to neither the converter nor the firstinput nor the second input.
 13. A power converter system comprising: afirst input configured to receive a DC voltage from a first DC powersource; a second input configured to couple to a power grid; a firstoutput configured to couple to the power grid; a plurality of secondoutputs each configured to couple to a corresponding AC load; a powerrouting module coupled to the first output and the second outputs; and aDC-to-AC converter coupled to the first input and the power routingmodule, the converter being configured to selectively operate in eithera first or second mode, in the first mode the converter acting as acurrent source to convert the DC voltage received from the first inputand to provide an AC current to the power routing module, and in thesecond mode the converter acting as a voltage source to convert the DCvoltage received from the first input and to provide an AC voltage of apredetermined level.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the converter isconfigured to effect the first and second modes in response to a firstindication that the power grid is connected to the first output and inan acceptable state and an unacceptable state, respectively.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14 further comprising a controller coupled to the firstoutput and the converter and configured to determine at least one ofwhether a voltage from the power grid is acceptable, whether a frequencyof energy from the power grid is acceptable, and whether the system isunintentionally islanding, and to provide the first indication to theconverter.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is coupledto the power routing module and configured to provide a secondindication of an acceptability of energy received by the system from thepower grid, and the power routing module is configured to route energyfrom the converter to the first output if the received grid energy isacceptable and to selectively route energy from the converter to thesecond outputs if the received grid energy is unacceptable.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16 wherein the power routing module is coupled andconfigured to selectively route energy from the second input to thesecond outputs if the received grid energy is acceptable.
 18. The systemof claim 13 further comprising a DC disconnect module coupled to thefirst input and configured to be manually operated to selectivelyconnect/disconnect a DC voltage source to/from the converter.
 19. Thesystem of claim 13 further comprising a third input configured to coupleto an AC power source separate from the power grid.
 20. The system ofclaim 13 further comprising: a second DC power source comprising anenergy storage device; and a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter coupled tothe energy storage device and to the DC-to-AC converter.
 21. A powerconverter system comprising: a DC-to-AC power converter configured toreceive DC power from at least one DC power source; a grid switchcoupled to the converter and configured to couple to a power grid; aplurality of selective couplings coupled to the converter, the selectivecouplings including load lines configured to be coupled to AC loads, theselective couplings being configured to selectively couple the converterto the load lines; and a controller coupled to the selective couplingsand configured to be coupled to the power grid, the controller beingconfigured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies atleast one criterion and to control the grid switch to isolate theconverter from the power grid, and to control the selective couplings tocouple the converter to at least one of the load lines, if the at leastone criterion is unsatisfied, the controller being further configured tocontrol the selective couplings to change a distribution of powerprovided by the converter to the load lines if power provided to theload lines is above an amount of power available to the converter. 22.The system of claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to cause theselective couplings to change a distribution of power provided by theconverter to the load lines dependent upon at least one criterion otherthan power drawn on the load lines.
 23. The system of claim 22 whereinthe controller is configured to cause the selective coupling associatedwith a presently-connected, lowest-priority, non-delayable AC load toisolate the converter from the respective load line if power provided tothe load lines is above an amount of power available to the converter.24. The system of claim 21 further comprising an energy storage modulecoupled to the converter and the controller, wherein the controller isconfigured to disconnect a presently-connected delayable load from theconverter before attempting to use energy from the energy storage moduleto power presently-connected loads if power available from the converterfrom the at least one solar panel is insufficient to power thepresently-connected loads.
 25. The system of claim 21 wherein each ofthe selective couplings are configured to be positioned in a first stateconnecting a respective one of the load lines to the converter, in asecond state connecting a respective one of the load lines to the powergrid, and in a third state connecting a respective one of the load linesto neither the converter nor the power grid.
 26. The system of claim 21wherein the selective couplings are further configured to couple to anAC power source separate from the power grid.
 27. The system of claim 26wherein each of the selective couplings are configured to be positionedin a first state connecting a respective one of the load lines to theconverter, in a second state connecting a respective one of the loadlines to the power grid, in a third state connecting a respective one ofthe load lines to the AC power source, and in a fourth state connectinga respective one of the load lines to neither the converter nor thepower grid nor the AC power source.
 28. The system of claim 21 whereinthe DC-to-AC power converter is configured to receive DC power from afirst DC power source through a unidirectional connection, the systemfurther comprising: a second DC power source comprising an energystorage device; and a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter coupled to theenergy storage device and to the DC-to-AC power converter.
 29. Thesystem of claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to connect anddisconnect loads to and from the converter based upon permitted sourcesof power for respective loads.
 30. A power converter system comprising:a DC-to-AC power converter; a plurality of outputs each configured to becoupled to an AC load; a plurality of load switches coupled to theconverter and the outputs; and a controller coupled to the load switchesand to the outputs and configured to control the load switches toselectively couple the converter to the outputs to selectively provideAC power from the DC-to-AC power converter to the outputs dependent uponat least one characteristic associated with the outputs other than powerdrawn on the outputs.
 31. The system of claim 30 further comprising afirst DC source that is unidirectionally coupled to the DC-to-AC powerconverter to supply DC power to the DC-to-AC power converter, the systemfurther comprising: a second DC source comprising an energy storagedevice; and a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter coupled to the energystorage device and to the DC-to-AC power converter.
 32. The system ofclaim 30 further comprising a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter coupledto the DC-to-AC converter and configured to couple to an energy storagedevice.
 33. The system of claim 30 wherein the first DC source comprisesat least one of a DC-output generator and at least one solar panel. 34.The system of claim 30 wherein the at least one characteristic is atleast one of whether a particular output is permitted to receive powerfrom a particular source, and whether a particular output is associatedwith a delayable AC load.
 35. The system of claim 30 further comprisingan AC generator coupled to the load switches.
 36. A method of regulatingpower delivery by a power delivery system, the method comprising:determining whether a power grid with acceptable first AC poweravailable is connected to the power delivery system; receiving first DCpower at a DC-to-AC converter from a first DC power source other than anenergy storage device and converting the received first DC power fromthe first DC power source to second AC power; providing the second ACpower to the power grid if it is determined that a power grid withacceptable power available is connected to the power delivery system;and providing the second AC power to a first AC load, of a plurality ofAC loads, connected to the power delivery system if it is determinedthat no power grid with acceptable power available is connected to thepower delivery system; wherein the second AC power is provided to thefirst AC load dependent upon at least one characteristic of the first ACload in addition to power draw of the AC load.
 37. The method of claim36 wherein the at least one characteristic comprises delayability of therespective load.
 38. The method of claim 36 wherein the at least onecharacteristic comprises permission of the respective load to receivepower derived from the first DC source.
 39. The method of claim 36wherein providing the second AC power to the first AC load comprisesproviding the second AC power in an amount only up to a thresholdamount.
 40. The method of claim 36 further comprising providing third ACpower to a second AC load of the AC loads dependent upon whether thesecond AC load is permitted to receive power derived from a source ofthe third AC power.
 41. The method of claim 40 further comprisingreceiving second DC power at the DC-to-AC converter from a second DCpower source, comprising an energy storage device, and converting thereceived second DC power from the second DC power source to the third ACpower.
 42. The method of claim 40 further comprising receiving the thirdAC power from an AC generator.
 43. The method of claim 42 furthercomprising: receiving second DC power at the DC-to-AC converter from asecond DC power source, comprising an energy storage device, andconverting the received second DC power from the second DC power sourceto fourth AC power; receiving fifth AC power from an AC generator; andcombining the fourth and the fifth AC power to form the third AC power.44. The method of claim 40 wherein the first and second AC loads arephysically separate such that the second and third AC powers areprovided to physically separate loads.
 45. A method of regulating powerdelivery by a power delivery system, the method comprising: providingcharacteristics of AC loads; providing indications of alternative powersources, which of the alternative power sources are permitted to powerwhich of the AC loads, and priority of use of the alternative powersources, wherein the alternative power sources are connected to thepower delivery system, wherein the alternative power sources aredifferent from a power grid; and powering the at least one of the ACloads using at least one of the alternative power sources, without usinga power grid, based on the characteristics of the AC loads, the priorityof use of the alternative power sources, and which of the alternativepower sources are permitted to power which of the AC loads.
 46. Themethod of claim 45 wherein the characteristics include loaddelayability.
 47. The method of claim 45 wherein the alternative powersources include a source of renewable DC power, the method furthercomprising: determining whether a power grid with acceptable AC poweravailable is connected to the power delivery system; and providing powerto the power grid from the source of renewable DC power if it isdetermined that a power grid with acceptable power available isconnected to the power delivery system.
 48. The method of claim 45wherein powering the AC loads comprises powering the AC loads withoutexceeding a power threshold.
 49. The method of claim 45 wherein poweringthe AC loads comprises discontinuing to power a particular one of the ACloads if a power drawn by the powered loads exceeds an available powerpresently provided by the alternative power sources to the AC loads. 50.The method of claim 49 wherein the discontinuing comprises selecting theparticular one of the AC loads based upon at least one of the loadcharacteristics.
 51. The method of claim 49 wherein the discontinuingcomprises selecting the particular one of the AC loads based upon thepriority of use of the alternative power sources.